School closures are on a downward trend nationwide

WASHINGTON — As the United States enters the traditional flu season, the number of schools forced to close because of the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus has dropped considerably, according to USA Today.

Peaking at 301 the week of October 22, 2009, the number of school closings nationwide has been on the decline for the past two months, the story stated.

Amy Garcia, executive director of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), said: "We should not assume this epidemic is over. It is my sense that epidemics come in waves, and this is probably a temporary downturn. I do not think we should in anyway be less vigilant or slow down on our efforts to protect those vulnerable to H1N1 or seasonal flu."

The downturn in school closings directly reflects the hardwork and determination of custodial professionals to hygienically clean and disinfect surfaces in schools across the country, the story noted.

According to the story, many schools changed their closure policies this fall and close only "as a last resort," generally when infection rates reach 40 percent or higher.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is stressing that the decline in infection rates, and the subsequent downturn in the number of school closures, is not cause for complacency and the public should remain vigilant and continue to practice good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, limiting contact with sick persons and cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Public transportation is one step ahead of the swine flu

ATLANTA — The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is relying not only on its employees, but also on its customers to help fight the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus, according to WSB-AM.

According to the story, customers and employees are being asked to follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommended precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, including frequent handwashing, disinfecting high-touch surfaces and covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.

All MARTA buses, trains, mobility vans, bus stations and train stations receive a thorough cleaning each day with a disinfectant approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the story stated.

MARTA receives regular updates from the CDC, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and local health officials, adjusting their plans according to the guidance received, the story noted.

Currently, there are no transportation-related restrictions connected to the worldwide swine flu pandemic and federal officials have confirmed that, at this time, public transportation is no more or less safe than any other public place, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

A closer look at H1N1 reports

As was reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 15, 2009, the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus has been detected in 206 countries, accounting for roughly 6,770 deaths — a conservative estimate.

Though some experts claim the pandemic has reached its zenith, with over 526,000 confirmed cases and counting worldwide, it remains vital that building service contractors (BSCs) and in-house professionals stay abreast of this highly contagious — but realistically beatable — foe.

According to a recent WHO report, "Influenza transmission continues to intensify in Canada without a clear peak in activity. The influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate, which has been highest among children aged 5-19, continues to significantly exceed mean rates observed over the past 12 influenza seasons. In the United States, influenza transmission remains active and geographically widespread, although disease activity appears to have recently peaked in most areas except in the Northeastern states."

The same report provided the following information about infection rates in Eurasian nations: "In Europe, widespread and increasing transmission of pandemic influenza virus was observed across much of the continent, but the most intense circulation of virus occurred in Northern, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. In East Asia, influenza transmission remains active."

The WHO goes on to note that in tropical zone of the Americas and Asia, the intensity of influenza transmission is variable, and in the temperate region of the southern hemisphere, little pandemic influenza activity has been reported.

What Does It All Mean?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in an effort to help the populace better understand the figures, releases a weekly report called FluView that analyzes data to paint a clear and concise picture of the current situation.

Some of the CDC's recommendations for remaining healthy during the H1N1 pandemic include:

§ Washing your hands often with soap and water; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

§ Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs are easily spread this way

§ Avoid close contact with sick people; if you become sick, remain home until at least 24 hours after flu-like symptoms cease

§ Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

Studies have shown that the influenza virus can survive for two to eight hours on surfaces and still have the ability to infect humans and animals.

Because of this, the CDC recommends using a hospital-grade disinfectant to frequently clean contaminated surfaces.

The Future Of The Formidable Flu

According to the WHO, mutations of H1N1 have been detected in Norway, Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine and the United States.

While the prospect of a mutation of an already-mutated flu virus is alarming, cleaning professionals can rest assured that the same techniques employed to eradicate the common flu virus and its H1N1 spinoff — frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces, proper hand washing and promoting general hygiene practices — are effective in the fight against the new strain.

As news of this continuously developing situation is constantly updated, we strongly encourage you to frequent cmmonline.com, cdc.gov and who.int for the latest H1N1-related information.

Survey reveals industry feelings about H1N1

In yesterday's CM e-News Daily^™ Special Report, they shared swine flu basics and several industry resources to consider as you aim to protect your facility from an H1N1 influenza A outbreak.

In today's lead feature, they would like to disclose survey results.

The staff of Cleaning & Maintenance Management^® recently conducted an online survey to tap industry professionals about current swine flu news and experiences.

Over 650 people responded to this survey and we would like to thank each one for taking the time to discuss this important topic.

The Results Are In

Below is a breakdown of who participated in this survey and what type of facility they represent.

· Contract cleaner — 33 percent

· Health care facility/nursing home — 17 percent

· K-12 school — 16 percent

· College or university — 14 percent

· Office/government building — 8 percent

· Industrial/manufacturing facility — 8 percent

· Hospitality — 3 percent

· Airport — 1 percent.

The first question we asked in our online survey was: Has H1N1 news made you change your cleaning focus?

According to the majority of respondents — 63 percent — the answer was, "Yes."

Call To Action

When asked, "What are you doing different to safeguard against and prepare for such potential pandemics?," the answers were diverse and informative.

Below are several actual, edited responses from that survey:

· We put hand sanitizers throughout the plant. We are concentrating on more cleaning of touch-type surfaces. We've put posters up to promote washing of hands, covering coughs, etc.

· Training staff on how and were to use disinfectant cleaners and, most importantly, training on proper hand washing.

· Focusing on using "clean" cleaning towels daily and "clean" mop heads. More laundry. Using only hospital-grade germicidal in "all" areas of building with special attention to door knobs and push plates.

· Through U.S. government information, we have gone to a more thorough and more widespread decontamination style of cleaning. This is sold to customers on a case-by-case basis. We try to instill in our contacts the importance of a co-mingled effort with prevention along with commonsense practices and establish our company as the knowledgeable provider of hand and door sanitizers.

· More time spent on prevention.

· The focus has changed only in the sense that we have to caution the uninformed who overreact and want to hit everything with a sodium hypochlorite or bleach product. It's unnecessary, ill-advised and poses distinct respiratory problems. An ordinary hospital-approved disinfectant — generally a quaternary ammonium product — works very well. H1N1 should not trigger extraordinary response. Routine and appropriate daily cleaning and disinfection is not simply adequate, but ideal.

· Increased frequencies of ceiling-to-floor cleaning from once annually to quarterly. Also, installed alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers at all restrooms, mailrooms and conference rooms. We made alcohol-based hand sanitizer pump bottles available in all office suites.

· Committee has been set up to determine best practices, such as keyboard cleaning, fitness center equipment cleaning, etc.

H1N1 mutations reported in the United States

WASHINGTON — After the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed last week that an H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus mutation had been discovered in Ukraine and Norway, fears quickly rose that a similar mutation could occur in the United States, according to the Atlanta Alternative Spirituality Examiner.

Recent reports that swine flu mutations have been reported in the states of Iowa and North Carolina have done little to quell these fears, the story stated.

According to the story, news of Tami flu-resistant swine flu in the state of North Carolina is raising questions about the ability to combat the pandemic.

Dr. Gregory Schmunk, Santa Clara County Medical Examiner, said: "[We have noticed] very heavy, wet hemorrhagic lungs, lungs with a lot of blood in them [in patients with the mutated virus]."

Many experts say the current virus mutation is strikingly similar to the 1918 "Spanish flu," which caused similar hemorrhaging and, in extreme cases, bleeding from the ears and skin, the story noted.

According to reports, the swine flu mutation involves a receptor binding domain change and is causing the virus to become more dangerous, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Employers play Dr. Mom to slow virus' spread

TRENTON, NJ — Following recommendations from various local and national health organizations, many employers are taking initiative and educating employees on the importance of proper handwashing and other hygiene-related tasks, according to WLFI-TV.

From creating and showing videos on good hygiene to training employees to cover for sick co-workers, employers are pulling out all the stops when it comes to curbing the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus' spread to ensure their employees stay healthy enough to continue with business as usual, the story stated.

Companies like UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Ball Corporation are arranging for employees with flu-like symptoms or sick family members to work from home if possible, holding fewer in-person meetings and are even discouraging handshakes — anything to lessen the chance of person-to-person transmission, the story noted.

According to the story, these increased precautions were instated because the first line of defense — placing hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes, tissues and signage throughout facilities — has not sufficiently halted the advance of the virus.

Jim MacMicking of SunGard Availability Services, said: "Large and mid-sized organizations are not going to go bankrupt [by paying sick employees to stay home]. Small organizations, that could be different.

Despite the good intentions of employers, those employees who have no paid sick leave will, according to Ann Beauchesne, head of emergency preparedness at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "want to come to work even if they're sick," the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

CDC estimates a threefold increase in overall cases

ATLANTA — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 22 million people in the United States have already been infected with the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus, and that number could easily increase to more than 34 million, according to the Willits News.

According to the story, the CDC believes that while the reporting methods it uses results in a significant underreporting of the number of those afflicted, it is the best method it has to monitor the rapidly changing situation.

The CDC estimates that between April 2009 and October 2009, there were about 79 unreported cases for every reported swine flu case and roughly 2.7 actual cases for every hospitalized case of the virus, the story stated.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), said: "Even though we saw a little bit of a decrease this week, it is still higher than the peak activity in many years. We can't predict exactly what's going to happen over the weeks or months ahead. Influenza season typically goes from December to May. Nothing is typical about this year's influenza. We may have weeks and months of a lot of disease ahead of us. Our expectation is that the next several weeks will be busy ones as people increase traveling over the holidays, we may see a mixing of people around the country."

Using the latest available figures and more realistic statistics, an estimated 10 percent of the United States population will fall ill with the swine flu and 6 percent of those hospitalized will die, the story noted.

The statistical methods used to review past data cannot be used to precisely predict the future course of the pandemic, making it extremely difficult to speculate and offer accurate estimates, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.